Daily Keemo. 9.15. It is The End Of Summer And The Breeze Through The Window Is Calming

It is The End Of Summer And The Breeze Through The Window Is Calming
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I am not even sure where I came across this old book. It is from 1870 and as it claims it is an illustrated religious magazine "for the family". For some reason I am drawn to this old religious stuff. Maybe it is the midwestern Catholic upbringing that didn't practice what it preached mixed with graphic arts mixed with the psych degree mixed with who knows what else. Either way, I suppose it works for me and who knows maybe it makes me revisit what is going on in my own belief system for a moment and in the end that is always a good thing to do...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 9.14. 5 More Reminders That Creativity Is Not Linked To The Economy

5 More Reminders That Creativity Is Not Linked To The Economy
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I almost feel that it isn't necessary to write a story for this one. I have this feeling that all of us, to different degree, all have our own ideas about money and the current state of it and heck you can't turn on the radio without hearing how people are or are not spending it or saving it or earning it or losing it and I swear that sometimes it appears that for most people, most of the time, it all boils down to it eventually. I am not naive enough to say that it does not matter and I assure you this is not a commentary on what should or shouldn't be done with it but maybe it is simply a proposal to think about it and how it connects who you are and what you have. So, with that, here are 5 more reminders that creativity is not linked to the economy... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 9.9. Never Lift A Brush And Move Paint

Never Lift A Brush And Move Paint
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Some of the best artists I know never lift a brush and move paints or use a camera or spin clay or know color theory but they do other things like engineering, historian, school teacher, prison guard, handyman and I could keep going on because they are all real people and are all sincere people who are nothing but themselves and give themselves to their craft and at the end of the day are the kind of people that you can sit across the table from and raise your glass to because you know their art is real art and that the friendship and kindness that goes with it can never be put down on canvas and that is why there are these words, I suppose, because my portraits never say what I mean but only pay homage to them and this portrait is the historian who sent me this book called Julian's Interest Book, printed in 1888, because he thought I would appreciate it or maybe use it before it got sent off to the eternal recycle bin of history and forgotten forever and with that a reminder that the art is almost always about how you get to the end of the painting and not where the painting ends up. With that,...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 9.8. The Sun Will Soon Follow

The Sun Will Soon Follow
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I have been having many days like this lately. The days when you have to stop and think about what the hell you are doing. I don't mean in the small "why-am-I-wearing-this-shirt" kind of way but in the "what-is-my-purpose-here-and-why-do-I-spend-my-energy-on-the-things-I-do-and-am-I-making-a-difference-in-anyone's-life-but-my-own" kind of way. You look at normal objects and can't help but reflect on those moments before and after the one that you are currently in. As I listen to it rain outside the window, I can't help but think that this can be a dangerous place to exist in for too long. That place where everything becomes only about the rain and is not about the sun that is soon to follow. So, with that, here is to taking stock in who you are and remembering that the sun will be here soon. ... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 9.2. I Should Clarify, I Suppose

I Should Clarify, I Suppose
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This is of nobody in particular. Well, I should clarify, I suppose. It started out to be somebody in particular but when it was done it was no longer that person at all. This is not uncommon for me. No big deal. Almost everything turns out different than you plan and that is just the way things are and I don't expect painting to be any different and once you get that it makes it much easier to walk through these days and end up in a different place than you set out for... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 9.1. It Was Intentional And Necessary And It Wasn't Just The Paints That Needed A Rest.

It Was Intentional And Necessary And It Wasn't Just The Paints That Needed A Rest
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I have been away from the brush and keyboard for 4 days. It was intentional and necessary and it wasn't just the paints that needed a rest. You have to step away sometimes to get close. I now sit here in front of my familiar keys, sipping on a bottle of Bitburger and to my right is an old copy of The Stanger that I found while going through some things last week. It is the exact copy that I first read when I was 15 years old and it is one of the few things that I own from that part of my life that seems so far away now. Somehow, this all ties back into this portrait and drawing a line to it is not so direct and it makes me think of the path that this copy of The Stanger has been on and followed me over the last twenty years and drawing a line there is not so direct either but somehow it all leads back to this desk and this moment and this painting... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 8.27. These Are The Paintings That Make A Painter.

These Are The Paintings That Make A Painter
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I really don't try to take myself too seriously. I think if I did I would have given up painting along time ago. I probably would have given up alot of other things as well over the years. Heck, maybe that's just a coping mechanism or something but either way it is what makes it possible to paint a duck that looks like this and feel just fine about it. Honestly, I think it is the first painting of a duck that made me smile. (except for Daffy Duck of couse). Anyway, not much of a story I know, but it's OK, it is not about the story, it's about the duck and not taking yourself and your art so seriously that you can't enjoy it... Enjoy!

PS. I just want to drop a quick hello to Marie who suggested the duck. She actually has pet Rouen ducks. (It is nice to live in a world where people can choose to have pet ducks, isnt it?) Sorry this doesn't have a green head like yours.

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Daily Keemo. 8.26. The Paint Speaks For The Words Tonight

The Paint Speaks For The Words Tonight
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Sometimes it is just about the painting and not about these words. So, the fewer the words the better on this one... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 8.24. This Day, Like Others, Is Unlike Any Day, Before

This Day, Like Others, Is Unlike Any Day, Before
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I did a commission about a year ago that was a bunch of eyes. That's it. Eyes. They were all black and white. All different sizes. All different shapes. (Just like real eyes, I suppose) I have been meaning to do a color version ever since but I kept forgetting about it. Well, I didn't forget about it today. I'm not sure what made this day any different that I finally remembered. I suppose, I don't know what makes any day different for that matter. It just works out that way and I am glad that it does. So, that is that. 150 eyes... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 8.22. 5 Reasons To Be Standing Together

5 Reasons To Be Standing Together
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I wrote the small story to go along with this painting and decided that it wasnt the right time or place to post that particularly story. (particularly since I decided to post this painting on ebay) It didn't seem like the right forum. I think I'm going to file the original story away for the book of short stories or for some other platform. Anyway, that leaves this one open to do as you wish with. 5 people with 5 hearts and 5 reasons to be standing together... Enjoy!
 

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